TAMPA, Fla. – The Islanders’ team that played Game 5 on Monday night at Amalie Arena can’t be the one that shows up for Wednesday night’s Game 6 at Nassau Coliseum.
Because that will end their season.
The Islanders suffered a total team breakdown – a parade of errors in every facet of the game – as the Lightning won 8-0, to take a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup semifinal series. It was the largest margin of defeat in the team’s playoff history and the first time they’ve been shut out this postseason.
Nothing went right as their defensive structure collapsed immediately.